CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — To have a streamlined and digitalized Philippine bureaucracy for more effective and efficient service delivery, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) opened a new Regional Field Office (RFO) in northern Mindanao June 22, here
“Our regional field office here in Northern Mindanao will be the voice of ARTA in this area of Mindanao, and we are committed to implementing all the major programs in the battle against red tape and corruption in the process,” ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez said.
He added that such an office is essential since policies and processes at both the national and local levels must be aligned. Doing so will enable the government to deliver the services the people expect.
Initially, Perez said ARTA was able to reduce the number of permits required from 13 to just about 6, the documentary requirements from 76 to just about 16, and the processing time from 285 days to just about 30 days.
“With this reduction, we have seen an increase in the issuance of permits. If you are able to replicate this experience, then our dream of having a much-improved economy that will provide business and employment opportunities can be realized nationwide,” he added.
Highlighting compliance with such, Perez recognized the City Government of Cagayan de Oro as the 9th local government unit that received the certificate of commendation for having been able to set up and operationalize an electronic business one-stop-shop (eBOSS).
He added that such a feat and compliance with Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business, are essential to attracting foreign and local businessmen and investors. “We will be able to expand business opportunities that will provide livelihood, employment, and income for our people,” Perez said.
Highly supporting the goals of ARTA, Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia said, “Ang Anti-Red Tape Act before, talagang kailangan ito, kailangang-kailangan ng gobyerno ng mga tao na kailangang maattend kaagad-agad, so we should have the compassion [to serve].”
(Even before, the Anti-Red Tape Act was really needed. The government really needs people who can immediately attend to the needs of their clients; thus, we should have the compassion to serve)
For her part, Civil Service Commission Regional Director Noemi Rabe-Torres said that as a partner agency of ARTA in all service delivery, programs, and initiatives, CSC will help the latter in capacitating government agencies in crafting the citizen’s charter.
“The concrete support that we can give is that for the Civil Service Commission, we already have a unit, the ARTA unit, to hear and decide cases on complaints against red tape, and graft and corruption,” she added.
Other local government units, regional line agencies, local government units, and the private sector, through the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., also express their support for ARTA by signing the pledge of commitment.
The Northern Mindanao Regional Field Office is the eighth RFO of ARTA in the country. (RTP/PIA-10)